Landmark decision: Special courts set up in Pakistan for wildlife protection

Dubai: In a landmark decision, Pakistan’s Punjab Province has launched special courts to protect wildlife in the province.

The Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee on Wildlife took decisive steps this week to protect the province’s endangered species, approving key amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1974.

 Among the new provisions, special courts will be established to address crimes against wildlife, including illegal possession and cruelty. Violators could face fines of up to Rs 500,000 (Dh6,600).

A 24/7 helpline (1107) has also been introduced for wildlife complaints and information.

Killing of endangered animals

The move comes amid growing concerns over the killing of endangered animals such as striped hyenas, grey wolves, and leopards in the tribal regions of Punjab and Balochistan.

The alarming rise in wildlife violence has prompted the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department to propose further changes to regulate the ownership of exotic animals like lions, tigers, and cheetahs, especially in private homes.

The committee also discussed ending the illegal display of such animals on social media.

Special centres

Marriyum Aurangzeb, Senior Minister in Punjab and key figure in the committee, shared details of the new measures on social media, announcing the creation of a “Protected Areas and Wildlife Management” board. The board will oversee a series of efforts designed to improve wildlife protection across the province, including the establishment of special centers for breeding, treatment, and general care.

During the committee meeting, which took place under the chairmanship of Chairman Muhammad Adnan Dogar on Tuesday, Aurangzeb had said that violations of wildlife laws or cruelty towards animals should be fined.

A new board called “Protected Areas and Wildlife Management” has been established to oversee these efforts, she told the committee.

Aurangzeb told the committee that a big hospital will be built for the treatment of wild animals at the cost of Rs1.47 billion.

“A comprehensive project has been launched in Punjab at Rs 1.73 bn for the protection of wildlife and the promotion of global tourism,” she added.

Last week, the Punjab government also announced the Chief Minister Wildlife Rescue Force for protecting wildlife. By improving the province’s ability to respond to wildlife emergencies, this project aims to not only ensure the welfare of individual animals but also to contribute to the broader conservation goals of protecting Punjab’s rich natural heritage, the officials added.